Don't forget the Brits went through similar agony in Iraq almost 100 years ago, over a period of 15 years. We are repeating several of their key mistakes...
On 2/27/07, Werner Fehlauer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Rich - there is little alternative but to see the mess through. In hindsight, assuming that the decision to go in and get rid of Saddam Hussein was taken, the next step should have been a systematic pull back of Western forces from the urban areas, as quickly as possible. We did not then, and still won't have, enough troops on the ground to occupy and attempt to pacify the country. We have to really push the existing government to establish some control of their own people. That is what we're doing right now, and let's hope that it works. IMO, we still need to carefully get our troops out of harm's way, and let the local people settle their own issues as they are used to doing. Staying there until "democracy" takes hold has the probability of our youth getting shot at for many years, if not forever. The situation in Iraq is more and more getting to look like the early 70's in Vietnam, where we meant well but 1) didn't have a strong government to support; 2) were in the middle of a civil war; and 3) lost the public support of the taxpayers at home. Oh, and both of those countries were somewhat arbitrarily set up a long time ago by colonial powers - the French in Indochina, and the Brits and French in the middle East. And the good old USA jumped in to help, decades later. Enough politics - let's get back to something we can do - work with our favorite cars! Werner ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 2:15 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: New Euro terror alerts >I think you are correct there in your assessment. It reflects what > other acquaintances with time in the region say. But it is easy to > criticize active efforts to deal with what you observe, however > productive or not, without advancing an alternative method. Criticisms > are a dime a dozen, no free, these days, hours, minutes. > > When I hear someone criticize the current situation, I ask, "So, what > would you do?" and get a lot of lazy blahblahblah from them, nothing of > any useful consequence. Most seem unhappy and frustrated, but seem to > be waiting for someone else to figure out so we can all kumbaya. > > What is your preferred alternative method? My short-term practical > alternative is viewed by many as rather extreme and clearly unpopular, > but likely effective. > > --R > > Werner Fehlauer wrote: >> should have learned that their eternal feuds >> always require retribution, and that westerners (crusading infidels in >> their >> eyes) will always be the common enemy. _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
